Left side: lion king roll with requested real crab Right side: dragon roll with requested real crab Food wasn't that great, the taste was not that great either. read more

Crystal Fish - Mixed tempura - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Went for a birthday party last week with 11 people and the experience was fantastic. Great sushi rolls, appetizers, and they were happy to assist us with the birthday cake we brought in. Server was very attentive and polite. Only reason they got 4 and not 5 stars is the inside could use a revamp. Polar opposite experience compared to our first visit back in 2017. read more

Honestly really good sushi. The rolls were plated beautifully and they tasted as good as they looked. I will say though the server's attitudes and attentiveness is severely lacking. When I went I sat by the window right by the servers station and we still didn't get the service that you normally get in most restaurants and mind you it wasn't busy at all there was only two other guest in there at the time and two Togo orders came through. We sat without drinks refilled and felt like we had to beg for things or wave someone down/ get up and ask for things. Usually even bad servers ask if we need anything else. read more

Crystal Fish - California roll and Shauna's chimichanga - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was great as usual but the ambiance was totally unacceptable. The sushi chef and other staff talked so loudly non-stop right in the dining area that it completely spoiled our dining experience. I felt like I was eating in a noisy fish market oblivious to customers who were trying to enjoy a meal. It did not help that the restaurant cleanliness and strong old food odors were unpleasant as well. As much as we love the consistent high quality of the seafood the dining experience was a fail. read more

I'm not even going to lie, I don't remember the names of the rolls I got. However, I tried a variety and each roll had amazing quality fish. One of the rolls was a simple salmon avocado. One came with a spicy sauce. Another was topped with multiple types of fish. The staff is very friendly and there are a lot of tables inside. They have a lot of awards on the wall, so this must be a reputable place in Monterey. If I come back, I will probably try their chirashi bowl. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Was looking for a quick and cost effective sushi place. This was it! $30 for lunch and I'm stuffed to the brim with yumminess. I had a miso soup and a couple different signature rolls with a soda. Very attentive service, food was delicious, and I enjoyed all the window space they had in the restaurant. Very open and airy and I highly recommend Crystal Fish! I'll definitely be back. read more

Crystal Fish - Dragon Roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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This place was pretty good! Luckily we made reservations because it was pretty packed. The miso soup was great! Both of us got sashimi/sushi like combos and they were good. A lot of the sushi rolls have asparagus and/or shellfish. Overall good experience for us! And a nice walk from the surrounding hotels :) read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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My go to for sushi whenever in town and we promptly arrived at 5 pm to celebrate an anniversary. In its hey day, this place would always have a line of people waiting to get in prior to opening for dinner as they did not take and still do not take reservations. Fast forward as we learned the previous owners retired several years ago. It is not as bustling when they open but at 6 pm, more people had arrived and seated before we left at 6:30. Service was attentive despite two staff members who were fairly new. I miss the traditional Japanese greetings when one enters and leaves but as long as the food is consistent I have no complaints. Pictured are Agedashi tofu which was okay but wish the pieces were cut in the traditional tofu squares. Yellow eyed Monster roll was unique in presentation and very tasty as I'm not an asparagus fan but it was prepared in such a way that the pieces are small and integrated into the roll. Dragon Ball Z was also unique but wasn't a big fan of the crunchy rice that is the base for the ball of the items that make up this appetizer. Santa Barbara uni was very fresh and glad we ordered that as well as the Spider and Hamachi Lover rolls. Will come back next time but now know I no longer need to get there by 5 pm read more

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The take-out experience is 5 stars. Each of the rolls we ordered tasted unique and delicious. Somewhat high prices, but worth it. The restaurant itself could use a renovation. read more

As we were passing through Monterey I told the Mrs. to find a sushi spot that she was interested in and we landed at Crystal Fish. We soon realized that we had been here once before a couple years back when I recognized the "Japanese KFC" on the appetizer menu. Food portions and taste/quality are more than respectable here. It is a bit on the pricier side but I think that comes with the location more than anything. Service was friendly and quick, we got our appetizer and food very fast and we were in and out of here within an hour. We got the Japanese KFC, combination plate (sesame chicken & ton katsu), and a couple sushi rolls. We both left feeling full and pleased with the experience. The sesame chicken is a hit it isn't drenched in sauce but rather a bit of a glaze which is nicely paired with the light/crispy breading. Also the Japanese KFC appetizer is a must, it's one of the better karaage's I've had. Side note: we got the unfiltered sake the last time we came here and it was a really good sidekick to the meal! read more

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Crystal Fish has phenomenal sushi! My husband and I over ate because we couldn't stop. We ordered 5 rolls between the two of us, which is nuts but it's because the rolls were just SO good. firecracker: (4/5) surprisingly this was the least favorite, although I thought it would be the best. I think the Tempura was too much, but it's basically a fancy spicy tuna roll Sexy: (5/5) has crab and unagi and was our favorite roll. So much so, that we ordered it again! Firecracker: (5/5) This was the first time we had tried a roll where the salmon was slightly baked/charred. It gave a uniquely Smokey flavor that we enjoyed Lovers Point (5/5) this was a special, although I do hope it becomes permanent. Another salmon roll that was slightly charred and tasted amazing. But by this time I was stuffed and only had one piece Service was quick and the ambience is cozy. We got lucky and found parking on the street read more

Crystal Fish - Pink dragon, sexy, firecracker - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Our server was nice and friendly, she helped us with any questions we had about the menu. The fish was extremely yummy and they had a good selection of fish. The Omakase meal with the chef selection of 12 nigiri was a great and a good deal compared to ordering on your own. It came with pretty much everything we would have ordered. There are a lot of sushi roll and menu options and a bar to sit at. Overall really enjoyable experience! Decor was nice and simple and the lighting was sufficient. read more

Crystal Fish - Chefs selection of 12 nigiri and Toro. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Highly recommend this place. The fish is amazing. If you have a gluten or dairy allergy just let the staff know and they are more than accommodating! The service was so quick. The establishment had a good ambiance, typical for a sushi place! read more

Came in with my boyfriend on a Monday night around 8:30pm and they weren't busy at all so we were seated right away. The interior is spacious and clean and there are plenty of tables as well as a few seats at the sushi bar. We ordered a dragon roll to share, the Nabeyaki Udon, and the Tuna 3-Way. The roll was yummy, basically a textbook dragon roll -- no complaints! The udon was nice and hot, perfect for the cold and rainy weather, and was a very generous portion. I was only able to finish about half of it and took the rest to go, and there were plenty of noodles still left in my to-go portion. Great flavor and lots of toppings. Finally, my boyfriend highly recommends the Tuna 3-Way. We were surprised at how much fish actually came in the dish, because sometimes $30 worth of sushi can be a much more modest portion at other places. This portion was quite generous and also came with plenty of fresh vegetables. Each tuna style was delicious and fresh! Excellent balance and variety of fish, veggies, and rice. read more

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This is a must stop if you are in the area. Sushi, teriyaki , miso soup is All good! Place is packed as soon as it opens. Came here at lunch time. People just keep coming! It's that good! read more

Crystal Fish - Sushi ship - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing food, amazing service, and a very homey vibe. The staff are friendly and truly cater to your requests. Definitely a place worth coming back to! read more

3 stars for the sushi and 5 stars for the customer service. My fiancé and I had a date in Carmel and was craving sushi. By the time we drove home our fave sushi spots would be closed so we settled for this place. I liked that the sushi rolls were not drenched in sauce but a lot of the rolls used spicy tuna. This has a pretty overbearing flavor that can get tiring pretty quickly. I also felt like the filling was skimpy especially one of the rolls that was supposed to have deep fried soft shell crab. That's a bummer! The sashimi platter was ok but fish wasn't the highest of quality. Overall it was ok but didn't really hit the spot for us. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Came at opening when there was only 1 table currently filled but the wait was loooong for a party of 5. Upside, the sushi was great but if you think you're gonna like the pork katsu because you like chicken katsu odds are you won't. A few of us ordered it to try something new but we were super disappointed. read more

My fav spot for sushi in the peninsula. I was always impressed and the ambiance is fun too. The selection is great, fresh and tasty.

We were in town for a little family vacation. The kids wanted sushi. The food was fresh and delicious. The service was good. It hit the spot. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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It was good . Service was good . My salad was delicious . My yea was great ! The rolls were okay . The service with GREAT . read more

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Would definitely go back to Crystal Fish if I was in the area. We were visiting for a night in Monterey Bay and were craving seafood. Ordered nigiri sushi, their version of karaage, gyoza, and matcha cheesecake. All very yummy and next time I'll order one of the seasonal specials too. Server was very attentive with utensils and timing of dishes, as well as quickly refilled our teas and waters. read more

Crystal Fish - Various cuts of tuna, salmon, and uni. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Went here to eat last night for our day trip in Monterey. This sushi restaurant was recommended by someone from the Asian-American Group I'm in so my hopes were up. I will only be reviewing the service and food that I personally ordered and enjoyed. We were there yesterday (Saturday, around 6pm), the restaurant had a few empty tables and was not looking busy. We (family of 5) got seated right away, which was great. It took around 5-7mins before someone took our orders, and once we ordered. The food came more than 15mins after which was quite a long wait with hungry kids. I ordered the Green Goblin roll and it was exceptionally good! The fish in it were so fresh and delicate. Every flavor just blended so well. I also ordered the Hokkaido Uni Nigiri and the Santa Barbara Uni Nigiri. Uni is my ultimate favorite food to eat. If the restaurant is serving Uni, I will definitely order it. The Hokkaido Uni has a sweeter more umami taste. The texture is melt in your mouth smooth almost like mayo. I would say that the Santa Barbara one even though smooth, has a noticeable chunk. You will feel a a tiny bit of separation once you let it sit in your mouth. Overall, we loved the food in here. The sushi was fresh! My daughters loved their udon. And my husband seemed to like his food too. read more

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Hands down the worst sushi I have ever had. We ordered 3 roles and none of them had any flavor. On top of that, the service was lacking. The server barely looked at us and did not even bring us soy sauce. We had to get up and get it ourselves. It was a very unsatisfactory experience. read more

We had a great dinner here. Our friends brought us here and everything was so good! All of the food was fresh and delicious and the vegan options were great for the vegans in our group! read more

Yumm came here for a late lunch around 1:30pm, they close around 2:30pm until dinner. They had the Hokkaido uni today (we asked if they had the Santa Barbara but they sold out last night and will have it for dinner time). The Hokkaido uni was so creamy and fresh! Recommend to try. Also got an order of the sake, tuna, hamachi, sweet shrimp, and mackerel with a seared salmon salad that comes with seaweed salad, romaine, avocado, broccoli, and a bunch of salad dressing (almost drenched). They place seems very authentic, the miso soup, shrimp head included, good selection of very fresh nigiri. Would def recommend and want to come back!! read more

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We planned on dining in but our toddler was not having it so we grabbed a to go order and headed back to our hotel around the block. We tried a few rolls and a dinner combo with teriyaki chicken and sesame chicken. Portions were generous and food was so fresh. I cannot stress enough how fresh the fish was and how generous the portions were. Worth the stop. If you're in the area for sure read more

Crystal Fish - HALF of the dinner combo with sesame and teriyaki chicken. Also came with large side of rice and miso soup that's not pictured here - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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My husband and I have been coming here for years. The fish used for the sushi is always fresh. The service is always great. The sushi bar looks great. They do get really busy on holidays. read more

Crystal Fish - Philly Roll, Spider Roll, Golden California and salmon nigiri. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

came for dinner on a crowded night, waited in line for at least 20 mins. it's understandable that this location is popular but it was also very loud and chaotic! i appreciate how friendly and accommodating the staff was through! the sushi and dessert was good read more

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LOVE their deep-fried oysters that come with this delicious umami sauce, although I'm not sure if it's still on the menu. Their service is extremely fast, and the staff is very friendly. I definitely recommend parking on one of the side streets, as Lighthouse can get crazy! read more

Though the presentation was good the food was bland. My family ordered the sashimi dinner - looked good to eat when it got to our table till we tried them. Octopus was so tough my son couldn't bite off a piece. Ordered the chicken karaage which came really late and was not tasty nor seasoned good. Wondered though why there were a lot of people going in. Maybe they the only sushi outfit here read more

We were in town for lunch so stopped by for sushi. This is a small restaurant that has delicious sushi. The fish was fresh, flavors were delicious. I really liked all of the rolls we ordered. It's no surprise that this place has so many reviews. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Great environment, amazing staff. Food is great quality and super good portions. Definitely recommend!

Sushi was amazing! Prices were great and waiters were very patient and nice. However we were stationed close to the bathroom and boy did it stink! Would NOT recommend a table by the bathroom. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Good sushi, slightly pricey. The quality was great, but portions were small. Service was friendly and quick. Worth it for a nice sushi night. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

They were open on Easter which was really convenient as a tourist visiting over the Easter weekend! There was no wait when we arrived for dinner, however we walked past this restaurant the day prior and there were quite a lot of people waiting outside. If you're trying to avoid a wait, definitely try to come right as they open for dinner! The restaurant itself is located on Lighthouse Avenue which is about 3-4 short blocks away from Cannery Row. That being said, if you were attending the aquarium for the day and already snagged parking, the restaurant itself is an easy trek on foot from the aquarium. If not, there is no designated parking lot however street parking isn't too hard to come by! Staff was super attentive and were very kind when it came to taking our order as well as checking in on us throughout our meal. Fish was really fresh and the rolls weren't drenched in sauce which was great! read more

Crystal Fish - Mama Mia roll (left) and Big Ryan roll (right) - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

I have been to this restaurant so many times. and this time I have to say this. I ate sushi& rice for lunch. Some fish was not fresh. I paid more than $30 including tax for mere lunch but I left some fishes uneaten. it was so disappointing. read more

Was looking for a quick small snack between lunch and dinner. Ordered two rolls (big ryan and frankenstein) and they were both EXCELLENT.. Wish our group would have liked sushi because I wanted to come back so bad. Till next time.. read more

Crystal Fish - Big ryan and Frankenstein both were great - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Great local spot! It's clear the restaurant puts their full effort towards having fresh, clean seafood. We got the sushi dinner, which comes with 7 pieces of nigiri and a california roll. This was my first time EVER having a California roll with real crab. I highly recommend if you're looking for a casual spot with top tier quality. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Hands down best sushi in Monterey area. The place is small and chill, but very popular. Service is super fast.